What an awful and horrible act that was.
The demolition of the national theater this past Sunday, May 17, 2020.
A cowardly and dictatorial act by a regime of people who claim to represent us.
Someone named the whole situations a “post-communist block still suffering Neo-dictatorship” – A. Brahaj.
I could not agree more.
To me, it is a dictatorship.
It is a national symbol and constant reminder that nothing is ‘sacred’.
Cultural and historical values are deemed unworthy of remembrance or to be preserved. We do that with cultural and historical symbols in the name of ‘development’; ‘progress’ or whatever else they choose to name it in their efforts to control the narrative for what is ultimately a cowardly and dictatorial act by a regime of people who do not represent us.
This was not an illegal building.
This was not a throwaway cultural symbol.
This was not what they say it was!
This kid is holding The Idiot by #Dostoyevsky as he is pulled by #Albania police in 4 different directions, for protesting the demolition of The National Theater building in #Tirana. Police violence wasn't provoked by protesters & the kid never let go of the book. #teatrikombetar pic.twitter.com/X548LkZlZ0
— Blendi Salaj (@BlendiSalaj) May 17, 2020
Sad day for #CulturalHeritage in Albania & Europe.
— Europa Nostra (@europanostra) May 17, 2020
Sad day for #Democracy & #RuleofLaw in Albania & Europe.
Early this morning, Albanian authorities arrested #civilsociety activists & started demolition of protected #NationalTheater in #Tirana#7MostEndangered #NotOurEurope pic.twitter.com/MPaex9YUEW
